Posted: 6/28/2010 6:05:50 AM EDT
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I have a system at work that NAPA set me up with. It keeps 6 12volt truck batteries on trickle charge or maintanice(I guess) until I need them. They come by everyday or so to bring parts so I just tell them to bring replacement batteries whenever we pull one off the rack.
Anyways does anyone know what I would need,in solar energy,if SHTF and i wanted to us this as a energy source? Its trickle charger is plugged into 110 or 120. Thanks |
You would want to get a Solar trickle charger 
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=solar+trickle+charger+for+12v+batteries&aq=2&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=solar+tri&gs_rfai=CJavldLIoTIqDOp20gASHv9SMCwAAAKoEBU_QK6xv Converting your Solar DC power to AC to use your trickle charger to convert it back to DC is energy inefficient. If you use one of the solar systems, they will have a system that turns on when there is enough energy to run plus a need. I am not an expert as I have not done this myself yet so I can't suggest a specific model but I did look enough to know it is on my wants list. Specific products: http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/SCC15.html |
| I see what u are talking about Quarterbore, but the system I have now is a trickle charger that plugs into the wall outlet. What im trying to figure out is how many solar panels and what type so if SHTF I can load up batteries and trickle charger and keep them charged where ever I end up so I can use them to recharge cell phones,motorolas,rechargebale aa,aaa,etc. maybe even charge cordless tool batteries |
| you want a solar charge controller. no need for the plug in trickle charger with the charge controller. http://www.homesolarandwindinfo.com/solar-charge-controller/ |
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Volts * Amps = Watts
or Amps = Watts / Volts A good trickle charge would be about 2A at about 14.5V... or 29W. I've got two 15W solar panels with a charge controller doing the trickle/maintenance thing on a 95AH deep-cycle. From near-dead it took a couple weeks in early spring to reach "full". My cells don't have optimal placement, though - they get about 4-6 hours of direct light daily. If you want to keep 6 batteries charged in a reasonable time, plan on several hundred watts of solar. |